2. Background: THE SEVEN YEARS’ WAR
1756-1763
Maria Theresa (a Habsburg) wanted to take back land that was taken by
Prussia during confusion over succession
Alliances
Britain, Prussia, and Portugal
Austria, France, Russia, and eventually Spain
Involved fighting in all territories and colonies (from India to America)
Ended with no major border change between Prussia and Austria
But resulted in France giving Louisiana territory to Spain, remaining territory to
Britain, and Spain ceding Florida to Britain
France only kept Saint Domingue (where is this?) and a few other islands
3. The American Revolution (briefly)
The Seven Years’ War left most European companies broke, including Britain
With more territory in N. America, they also wanted to keep a large standing force here
To pay for this, and to increase government income, they passed the Stamp Act in 1765
The colonists opposed these taxes and boycotted British goods
The Stamp Act was repealed
In 1773, the Tea Act was passed, giving the East India Company a state sanctioned monopoly on the
tea trade
This incited the Boston Tea Party, which resulted in the Coercive Acts of 1774 (penalties)
The First Continental Congress was held in Sept. 1774 in Philadelphia, rejecting British acts regulating the
Colonies
Parliament followed by passing more acts, and fighting broke out in 1775 in Lexington and Concord
The British use of German Hessian Mercenaries helped resolve many Americans who had been on
the fence
July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopts what?
The Treaty of Paris in 1783 recognized the US as independent, 1787 the Constitution is signed
4. The French Revolution
The French king during the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War (Louis the XV)
could not convince the French nobility to pay taxes (or raise taxes on the peasants any more) the
Crown then borrowed money to pay for France’s involvement
King Louis the XVI had to borrow even more money to support the Americans during our
Revolution
By the 1780s the French government was broke.
50% of the budget went to paying debt to other countries.
25% went to maintaining the military.
6% went to finance the crown.
The remaining 19% was left to run the country....
The only way to resolve the situation was for Louis XVI to call the Estates General
5. The Three Estates
The First Estate - The Clergy
100,000
Owned 10% of land
Paid no regular taxes
Imposed taxes on landowners separate from
the government
The Second Estate - The Nobility
400,000
Owned 25% of land
Traditionally paid no taxes, before the
revolution paid a very small amount of tax,
with no consequence for not paying
Could impose taxes/fees on peasants separate
from the government
Who/What is the Third
Estate?
6. The Estates General
In 1787 Louis XVI and his finance minister wanted to reinstate a heavier
tax on the nobility to stem the debt.
The king asked a group of nobles for support, and when they refused
without more direct control of the government finances Louis XVI
dismissed them and tried to impose the taxes without their support.
Nobles and bankers revolted against the new tax structure and told the
King that there would be no movement until he called the Estates
General - a gathering of the three estates that had not been called
since 1614.
In 1788 the king bowed to the pressure and called the Estates General,
diminishing his absolute power.
7. The Formation of the National Assembly
From 1788-1789 the three estates began the process of electing their representatives to the
Estates General
There was dissent between the urban/provincial clergy, the rich/poor nobles, and the richer
peasants and poorer. The majority of peasants that were elected were better educated and what
might be today considered the middle class.
In times past the Estates General had all received one vote per estate in deciding matters, this time
the Third Estate and individuals within the other two estates called upon the king to make the vote
by head, which would have given the Third Estate as many votes as the First and Second
combined. They also requested that the king force all three estates to meet together in one
chamber. Louis XVI refused to decide.
The Nobles and Clergy locked the Third Estate out of the chamber.
The Third Estate (along with sympathetic members of the other estates) went to the only other
room large enough to house them, which was?
They declared themselves the National Assembly, and took the ____ _____Oath, vowing not to
leave until they had written a constitution.
8.
9. The Bastille
While the new National Assembly was attempting to draw up
a constitution, the people of Paris began to revolt against
high food prices and a perceived lack of interest of the king.
With open angry mobs in the city, Louis XVI chose to send
his troops to Paris, rather than to break up the National
Assembly at Versailles, as he originally planned.
On July 14, 1789, several hundred protesters stormed the
Bastille, a fortress that had been converted to a prison and
armory, they wanted the weapons for themselves.
Ninety-eight people died trying to take the Bastille, and
eventually the prison surrendered.
In a sign of victory over oppression, what did the people do
to the Bastille?
10. The Revolution Continues
Peasants revolt against landowners in the countryside, largely seizing and destroying documents
recording _____ or tying them to manors. This is known as the Great Fear.
Women, later joined by soldiers and others, march from Paris to Versailles demanding the head of
Marie Antoinette. The royal family is taken back to Paris under arms.
In 1790 Louis XVI accepts a constitutional monarchy, with all power being held by the National
Assembly. After the final constitution was drafted in 1791, the assembly disbanded, allowing for new
elections.
11. War and the Death of the Monarchy
Political factions developed almost immediately within the
new Legislative Assembly, the most powerful being the
Jacobins.
Many legislators wanted to carry the revolution to other
monarchist states, and France soon declared war on the
Habsburg monarchy. During this time a mob attempted to
seize the royal family. They attempted to flee the country, and
were arrested for treason.
In 1792 a new National Convention was called, and yet more
elections were held. The new group declared France a
republic, tried, convicted, and executed Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette for treason in 1793. Robspierre, leader of
the radical faction
within the Jacobins
12. The Reign of Terror, the Directory, the
Consulate
By 1794 the more extreme Jacobins (the Mountain), led by Robspierre, take control and begin
arresting and executing all dissenters, including moderate Jacobins (Girondists).
What happened to Robspierre?
The dictatorship of Robspierre would be replaced by the Directory, a leading group of five
legislators, 1794-1799.
This period is called the Thermidorian reaction, it relaxed many of the harsh policies of the Jacobins
The French army had by this point seen much success in the wars against Europe's monarchies,
mostly because a mandatory draft provided numerous new troops.
A different group of legislators felt the Directory was inept at leading France and encouraged
Napoleon to overthrow them, they then created the Consulate.
Napoleon was First Consul, and effectively running the country. He eventually overthrew them and
disbanded the National Convention with the military.
13. Who was Napoleon?
Born in 1769.
Where was he born? Why did this matter?
From a minor noble family, his father served as a representative at court.
Went to a military academy in France on scholarship. Why is this
important?
Relocated his family to France in 1793.
After returning to France he rejoined the military and began to support the
Jacobins.
After the Directory took control, he put down revolts in Paris.
14. Military Career and the Directory
After successful suppression of revolts the Directory began consulting
Napoleon on military matters.
Placed in command of French forces in Italy, where he won decisive victories in
1796 and 1797.
Then went to Egypt, where he was separated from his forces, and fled back to
France, leaving his troops behind.
Saw growing dissent against the Directory's leadership as an opportunity.
Dissenters, led by the Abee Sieyes, saw the need for a strong leader for France.
They saw talent in Napoleon and helped him overthrow the Directory,
appointed him First Consul.
15. Reforms under Napoleon
Napoleon valued skill and ability above all, making appointments based on merit, rather than
social position.
His position was essentially a dictatorship, with almost all power.
In 1800 the National Bank was established to stabilize the economy.
In 1801 Napoleon and Pope Pius VII sign the Concordat, uniting French Catholics
Allowed emigres to return to France and serve in the government, if they would swear loyalty to
him and France.
In 1804 established a new Civil Code, reforming the government and laws.
Declared himself emperor in 1804.
Women lost many rights they had gained in the revolutionary years.
Political opponents were silenced or imprisoned.
The press was slowly reduced in number, by 1811 there were only four newspapers left, all of which
were essentially state controlled.
Despite this, many French citizens were more than happy with Napoleon and his government,
because France continued to gain territory and stability.
16. Military Conquests
By 1799 Prussia had stopped
fighting France. This left Austria
and Britain. Napoleon focused
attention on Austria, defeating
them in 1801. Then signed a
treaty with Britain in 1802.
Declared war on GB again in
1803. Attempted to invade, but
lost his fleet in the English
Channel.
GB, Austria, Sweden, Russia form
alliance in 1805. Coalition
defeated at Austerlitz, Austria
leaves alliance. Prussia joins.
Prussia/Russia defeated by
1806/7.
Puts Britain under a blockade.
17. The Grand Empire and its Allies
Napoleon fully expected the expanded French Empire, its dependent states, and allies to function
as one large body.
This was relatively effective in France proper, and in territories that felt they had been "liberated"
such as Poland.
In other areas (Spain, the German states, Austria, parts of Italy) he began to be seen as an
occupying tyrant.
1808 resistance comes to blows in Spain, continues to fight guerrilla war.
1811 Russian Tsar Alexander I quits blockade of Britain.
1812 Napoleon invades Russia. Reaches Moscow in winter and is forced to retreat, suffering
massive losses.
18. The End of an Era
By the time Napoleon makes it back to Paris, Austria and Prussia had
joined Britain and Russia again. Unrest continued in Spain. In 1814 he
was forced to abdicate and was sent to exile on the Isle of Elba. He
was allowed to keep his noble title and received a pension from the
state.
Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France, picking up
troops as he marched on Paris. He ruled for roughly 100 days before
being defeated at Waterloo. He was then exiled on St. Helena, off the
coast of Africa.
He died in 1821 on
St. Helena
19. The world is still
revolting
YES, THERE’S STILL MORE…
20. Haitian Revolution
What is the name of this island?
Spanish claimed the island after who landed
on the island?
French Caribbean settlers come to the
Western part of the island and fight for
dominance until 1697, when Spain agrees to
cede the furthest western third of the island
to France.
The colonial name was Saint Domingue
21. Saint Domingue as an Economic
Colony
The French third of the island produced nearly one-third of France’s total
foreign trade.
Sugar (huge cash crop in the 1700s)
Coffee
Cotton
Indigo
22. Effects of 1789 in Saint Domingue
White plantation owners saw 1789 as a chance to gain more self rule and
financial independence from France.
Mixed-race small farm owners and business owners (called Gens de Couleur) saw the
Estates General as a chance to get racial equality (only between them and the whites).
Neither of these groups wanted to free slaves, as many of them were slave owners
and benefitted heavily from the system of oppression.
Both groups sent delegations to the Estates General
When fighting began on the island between these two groups, slaves in the north
rebelled, and the rebellion soon spread south to the remainder of the colony.
As the revolution became more radical in mainland France, the leaders of the
National Assembly support the Gen de Couleur.
23. Toussaint L’Ouverture
Francois Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture
A domestic (household) slave before the rebellion in Le
Cap, in the north, present day Cap Haitien
Becomes one of the prominent leaders, unifying the
rebels and organizing them in a more military structure
Before this time, the rebels largely focused on destroying
plantations and property, and overthrowing (often killing)
their former masters
Organization and unification was key to any long-term
success of the rebellion
24. The Rebellion Continues
In 1794, the Jacobins abolish slavery in France and its holdings
This strengthens the legitimacy of the rebels
Foreign incursions
British forces land in 1793, take some coastal towns, French forces expel
them in the south, but not from the capital, Port-au-Prince
Spanish forces enter from the east, rebel forces and remaining French forces
together defeat the Spanish and drive them from the colony in 1794
British troops reinforce those at Port-au-Prince, L’Ouverture’s forces engage
them in battle, and initially lose, but persist in harrying them
Eventually British losses (to fighting and disease) are so great, they sign a
treaty with L’Ouverture to leave the island, as long as he would not support
any uprisings in Jamaica
So maybe
Robspierre wasn’t all
that bad?
25. Military Victories of the Rebels
L’Ouverture had initially allied with the Spanish forces coming in from the east
(Santo Domingo), but after realizing that Spain had no plans on abolishing
slavery, he briefly allied with French Colonial forces to push them out of Saint
Domingue
He defeated the British in 1798 (with the help of disease)
Then defeated the remnants of French Colonial forces
And proceeded to enter Santo Domingo, defeating Spanish forces and setting the
slaves free there (1801)
The US did not want L’Ouverture to be successful, and initially support British
forces, after their defeat, and French/US Naval skirmishes, the US supports the
rebels
Forces sent by Napoleon arrive in 1802, and win a number of victories, including the
capture of L’Ouverture himself
26. End of the Revolution
Napoleon sends Charles Victor Emmanuel Leclerc to retake
Saint Domingue, who was he?
He captured L’Ouverture and sent him to mainland France.
Leclerc died of Yellow Fever
Continued French losses to Yellow Fever enabled the rebels to
mount a successful counter-offensive
Jean-Jacques Dessalines – a former plantation slave, and
successful general in the Haitian rebel forces takes up
leadership after L’Ouverture is captured
27. Fate of L’Ouverture and Haiti
L’Ouverture dies in a former French fort in the alps that
was converted to a prison near the border with
Switzerland (Fort de Joux).
Haiti fares better. After Napoleon’s forces were
defeated, he focuses on Europe, instead.
Haiti keeps their independence
Dessalines becomes the President of Haiti under a
constitution. Later declares himself emperor (so maybe
not that much better)
Kills the majority of remaining White Haitians, in an
effort to prevent any lingering royalist sentiments.
Rules brutally until he is assassinated in 1806, replaced
by years of division between north and south.
How many independent states are there in the Western
hemisphere at this point?
29. After the American, French, and Haitian
Revolutions
What happens next?
What do European leaders want
to see happen?
Is there a difference in what Great
Britain wants? Prussia? Russia?
Austria?
How do you stop the spread of
revolution?
30. Congress of Vienna: 1814-1815
Representatives from Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia
Who isn’t at the table?
While the congress is happening, Napoleon escapes Elba, proceedings continue
as troops must be sent to defeat him at Waterloo
Sought to create a better balance of power in Europe
How could they do that?
Virtually every kingdom and state had a delegation at the
congress – but only “the big four” and representatives
from a re-founded French (Bourbon) royalty made the final
decisions.
32. A Return to Conservatism
The Big Four + France believe that be reestablishing the French throne, and
solidifying its power they could prevent further revolutionary movements
Austria, Prussia, and Russia form the Holy Alliance to support monarchies
throughout Europe, putting down revolts in Spain and smaller Italian kingdoms
Prussia gains territory (picks up more small German states), Austria gains
territory in Northern Italy. Russia got to keep Finland (which it had occupied
since 1809). Russia, Prussia, and Austria take back lands lost to Poland under
Napoleon, partitioning it again, shifting borders slightly
France’s borders are adjusted back to 1792 area
Belgium is officially transferred from Austrian control to the Netherlands
Sweden keeps Norway (traded to Denmark for Pomerania a year earlier in 1814),
Pomerania goes to Prussia
